Posted by Becca
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Cats, Ducks, Good Read Aloud, Happy Little Family, Quick Read, Rebecca Caudill, Sheep
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Debbie and Bonnie Fairchild want to get rich this summer. The two girls find some advertisements from companies wanting people to sell their products. The girls will make one dollar each and, in their minds, they will be rich.
Up and Down the River is a wonderfully simple story. It is part of a series, but it can easily be understood on its own. Bonnie and Debbie end up making a lot more than two dollars, though not in the sense of money. Overall, this is a very enjoyable and worthwhile read.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Fiction, Review, Younger Readers
Tags:Animals, England, Frances Hodgson Burnett, gardens, Good Read Aloud
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Mary Lennox was a little girl that nobody seemed to want. After her parents died in India she was sent to live with her uncle in England. Her uncle was yet another person who didn’t really want her, and while Mary was provided with every comfort, she lived a lonely little existence. Mary was a very disagreeable girl, and that made everyone seem disagreeable to her. She seemed doomed to a very un-childlike life, but then the moor, and the sky, and the air started to work their magic on her. Mary began to make friends and discover the wonders of the outdoors. And the wonders of a garden that had been locked up for ten years.
Yes, this is another book that I could ramble on and on about. It’s very charming and enjoyable. Toward the end of the book there seems to be some shaky theology, but I’m not sure if it was intentionally written that way, or if it’s just the way I’m reading it. As a gardener, I loved the descriptions in this book. And it has such a great ending! The authoress seems to be able to introduce a character and help you get to know them in just the first paragraph.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mysteries, Review
Tags:Animals, Award Winner, Egypt, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Good Read Aloud
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Ranofer, a young Egyptian boy, wants nothing more than to become a goldsmith like his father was. But his cruel half-brother Gebu has other plans, and soon Ranofer is bound to a dreary life in the stonecutter’s shop. When suspicious acts of Gebu’s turn up, though, Ranofer—with the help of his only two friends, Heqet and The Ancient One—determines to prove Gebu guilty. Dangers await, but Ranofer is willing to risk everything for his freedom.
The Golden Goblet impressed me as a very good book. It’s easy to get caught up in Ranofer’s plight, sympathizing with him and wondering how it will turn out. It also provides a neat look into ancient Egypt and what things were like then, yet it does so without distracting from the story at all. I’d say it’s an excellent read, and definitely worthwhile.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Picture Books, Review
Tags:Don Freeman, Easy Read, Good Read Aloud, music, praying mantis, Quick Read, spiders
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Manuelo the mantis loves music, and he spends a lot of his time listening to outdoor concerts. One day, he decides to try making an instrument that he could play. Try as he might, nothing works out, and he gets very discouraged. Then, a small spider offers her help, and together they try one last time.
I’d never heard of this book until just recently, but I’m glad I found it. It may not be one of Don Freeman’s most popular books, but the story is unique and sweet. I definitely encourage everyone who enjoys this author’s books (or anyone who enjoys music) to look into Manuelo the Playing Mantis.
Posted by Becca
Categories: Fiction, Picture Books, Review, Younger Readers
Tags:Award Winner, Easy Read, Ezra Jack Keats, Good Read Aloud, Quick Read, Snow, Winter
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One day, Peter wakes up and sees snow out his window. He spends the day making funny tracks, building a snowman, and making snow angels.
The Snowy Day is a very enjoyable book about all the fun things to do when it snows. It makes a great read-aloud and will have you wishing for a snowfall so you can play, too.
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